Folding ironing board



Aug. 29, 1961 c. A. cAsTuccl 9 FOLDING IRONING BOARD Filed June 4, 1957 FIG. I FIG.6 Ill 24 83 $6 I] {.14 41 13 7 84 V FIG. 2 20 I2 61 '63 14 I62 32 15.

91 2 L j h III I12 02 BI 86 68 E I 168 [8| [9O 3 E -1 I; o 3 =T FIG. 3

l v'l'iil CARMINE A. CAST ucc1 [O5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Uni assignor of fifty percent to Frank J. Crisona, Far Rockaway, N.Y.

Filed June 4, 1957, Ser. No. 663,512 6 Claims. (Cl. 38-139) This invention relates to folding ironing boards. More particularly this invention relates to an ironing board foldable into compact form.

An object of this invention is to provide an ironing board having a work table of generous dimensions and, integral therewith, a sturdy supporting structure therefor, both of which may be folded into a compact body.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an ironing board foldable into a compact form and having leg structures adaptable to support the ironing board at diflerent levels.

Yet another object is to provide an improved folding ironing board as characterized above in which the operations of setting up and collapsing the board may be very simply and quickly carried out without the operator re quirin-g detailed instruction or any material degree of skill.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an ironing board and support therefor readily foldable into compact form that also is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive of manufacture and that will pro vide a strong, substantial, and rigid support that will withstand the stresses applied thereto during the ironing operations.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangements and combinations of parts set out in the present specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In view of the fact that the device as a whole is commonly known as an ironing board it is thought desirable to refer hereinafter to that part of the device on which the ironing is done as a table.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an ironing board according to my invention shown in its folded compact and portable condition with the legs in collapsed position and the table folded;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 1 when the legs are in collapsed position and the table is in its open position;

FIGURE 3 is a side view, partly in section, takenalong line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 showing in some detail the relations of the clamp and leg member;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3 showing in some detail the relations of the locking device and leg member; and

FIGURE 6 shows in some detail the ends of arm 81.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

The ironing board comprises a table 11 having two hollow leaves 12 and 13 which can be folded together at a transverse hinge 14, and supporting means comprising, inter alia, a plurality of legs 15 and 16, which can be telescoped and then contained within the hollow portion of the leaves when the two leaves are folded together to form a compact and portable structure.

The table 11 comprises a longer tapered leaf 12 and slightly shorter leaf 13 joined by piano hinge 14. Leaf 12 is tapered and comprises a fiat panel with a rounded end 21. Flanges 22 and 23 are joined to reinforce the ed tates Patent panel 20. Leaf 13 is composed of a flat panel 30 having substantially flat end 31. Flanges 32 and 33 are joined to and reinforce panel 30. When the leaves are in open position, leaf '12 is juxtaposed at edge 24 of panel 20 to edge 34 of panel 30 of leaf 13 and also along the juxtaposed flanges 22 and 32 and 33 and 23. Piano hinge 14 comprises pin 41 and arms 42 and 43. Each arm consists of a circular portion, as 44, which closely and pivotally engages the pin, 41, and a flat portion, as 45; each fiat portion, as 45, may be perforated to facilitate firm attachment thereof, as by welding or riveting, to an adjacent surface. Arm 42 is jonied to flange 23 and arm 43 is joined to flange 33. The hinge is preferably so located as to place the pin 41 in the line of the flange edges to permit rotation of the flanges about the pin and closing of the leaves to the position shown in FIGURE 1 with a minimum of space between the flanges.

Attached to the flange 22 of leaf 12, as by riveting or welding, are fishplates .61 and 62, each respectively supporting a stub shaft 63 and 64. These stub shafts firmly support a closely fitting rigid hollow tube 65. A rigid hollow tubular leg member 68 is firmly and rigidly attached, as by filet weld 67, at right angles to member 65. Tubular member 68 is held by clamp 70 and thereby slidably connected, through arms 81 and 82 to a pivot on bracket 90. Bracket is firmly connected, as by welding or rivetting, as shown at 99, to the panel 20. Arm 81 has therein an elongated J-shaped longitudinal slot 83 and a circular hole 84. Hole 84 closely fits and pivotally holds pivot pin 91 of bracket 90. Slot 83 has a curved portion 85 at the end thereof distant from hole 84. This slot serves as a slide to closely fit and slidably hold shoulder 71 of pin 79 of clamp 70. Arms 81 and 82 may also each have a ribbing member as 86 and 87 respectively to provide a more rigid structure. Arm 82 has a J-slot similarly shaped to slot 8 3 which closely fits and slidably holds the large shoulder of pin 72 of clamp 70. Arm 82 has a hole similarly shaped to hole 84 which closely fits and pivotally holds pin 92 of bracket 90.

Bracket 70 comprises a U-shaped member 73 having an arcuate section 74 therein and cooperating therewith a relatively flat member 75 having a hump 76. The arcuate section and the hump fit the contour of leg member 68 and are held together as by fastening assemblies as 77 and 78, each consisting of a nut and bolt.

A rigid hollow tubular member closely fits and smoothly telescopes into member 68 to form leg 15. Member 100 is also firmly attached, as by filet weld 101, to a rigid tubular member, foot 102. Member 100 contains a spring 103 which serves to urge the shouldered hollow locking caps 104 and 105 through holes 106 and 107 in member 100 and through the lock holes 108 and 109 in member 68. The shouldered caps are spaced sufiiciently far apart to allow passing of tubular member 68 past tube 100 on compression of the spring 103. The caps, as 104 and 105, and holes as 106, 107, 108, and 109 are so dimensioned as to make a snug yet slidable fit.

Attached to the flange 32 of leaf 13, as by rivetting or Welding, are fishplates 161 and 162, each respectively supporting a stub shaft 163 and 164. These stub shafts firmly support a closely fitting rigid hollow tube 165. A rigid hollow tubular leg member 168 is firmly and rigidly attached, as by filet weld 167, at right angles thereto. Tubular member 168 is held by clamp 170 and thereby slidably connected, through arms 181 and 182 to a pivot on bracket 190. Bracket is firmly connected, as by welding or rivetting, to the panel 120. Arm '181 and arm 182 correspond in structure and function to arm 81 and arm 82 and may be interchangeable therewith.

Brsskst .7 i i ilar n struc u nd un tiqn to bracket 70 and may be interchangeable therewith. Bracket 190 is similar in structure and function to bracket 90 and may be interchangeable therewith.

A rigid hollow tubular member 200 closely fits and smoothly telescopes into member 168 to form leg 16. Member 200 is also firmly and rigidly attached, as by filet weld 201, to another rigid tubular foot member 202. Member 200 contains a spring which, like 103, serves to urge shouldered hollow locking caps, similar to 104 and 105, through holes on member 200 and through the lock holes, as 208 and 209, in member 168. These shouldered caps are also spaced sufficiently far apart to allow passing of tubular member 168 past tube 200 on compression of said spring. These caps and holes are so dimensioned as to make a snug yet slidable fit as above described for caps 104 and 105 and holes 106, 107, 108, and 109.

A feature of my invention is the simplicity of construction thereof. Member 65, 68, 165, 168, for instance, may be made of 1% inch outside diameter aluminum tubing having inch wall thickness. Legs 100 and 200 and feet 102 and 202 may be made of 1 inch outside diameter aluminum tubing having inch wall thickness. Both leaves including panel and flanges may be made of aluminum or steel sheeting of A; inch thickness. Rivetting should be made with flush heads to provide smooth surfaces where required. Leaf 12 is desirably made about 2 to 3 inches longer than leaf 13. A supporting tubular member as 110 may be provided to strengthen the narrow curved portion of leaf 12, as well as to provide a convenient hand-hold to carry the board in its folded and collapsed position. A spring latch as member 111 may be provided to hold the leaves together in the folded position. Latch 111 may be welded as at 112 to leaf 13.

In addition to the holes 108 and 109 in member 168 and similar holes 208 and 209 in member 168, additional pairs of lock holes as shown at 118 and 218 may be provided to allow more than the one extended position of leg 100 relative to leg 68 and more than the one extended position of leg 200 relative to leg 168 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 in solid lines. Thus with the hollow locking caps held at hole 118 in leg 68 and at hole 218 in leg 168 the position of foot 102 would be as shown in dotted line at position indicated at 120, and the position of foot 202 would be as shown in dotted line at position indicated at 130.

A feature of my invention is the compact shape and size of the ironing board in its folded condition while permitting a full size ironing board at comfortable heights. Thus in a preferred embodiment of my invention, the length of leaf 12 is 28 inches and the length of leaf 13 is 26 inches to provide a total table length of 54 inches; members 68, 100, 168, and 200 are each 21 inches long. Thereby member 68 and member 100 together form a leg, 15, of 38 inches length (as do member 168 and 200) to provide a table height of 32 inches, with an overlap of member 68 on member 100 of about 4 inches, which overlap provides a rugged sturdy rigid support, substantially free from wobbling under stresses applied to the board during ironing. Member 202 may have telescoping members attached thereto to increase the width of footing along the line of that leg or, as leg 202 and leg 102 are of the same outside diameter, these telescoping members may be added to leg 102 to increase the width of footing at that point of support.

Use of varied position of the foot supports, as shown at 120 and 130, may provide lower table heights, as desired. The fact that the main supporting members 68 and 168 come close together from wide-apart points of support to provide an area of maximum compressive strength and rigidity and stability at the approximate center of the table surface where most of the fiat work is'co'nventionally done on the ironing board utilizes the strength and rigidity of the component parts to the u t most and provides an ironing board of increased life and freedom from annoying wobbles that is seldom met even in ironing boards having one-piece tables. This is usually not expected and is greatly appreciated in a foldable and compact device such as in my invention. Further to maintain the sturdiness and rigidity of my collapsible ironing board formed according to my invention, the points of pivoting support are provided with large areas as at stub shafts 63 and 64 for piece 65 pivoting thereabo-ut. The shoulders, as 71 on pin 79, are also made wide for the purpose of providing pivot surfaces at clamp 70 of large supporting area for arm 81; similarly pin 02 is shaped similarly to pin 79 to provide a large pivot and support area for arm 81. Correspondingly large pivot areas are used on clamps associated with both legs 68 and 168. The area of contact of the telescoping leg and the member 68 (and corresponding member 200 and 168) is also large, as discussed above.

In operation, starting from the compact and collapsed position of the ironing board shown in FIGURE 1, spring clamp 111 is released and the leaves 12 and 13 are folded about the hinge 14 into the flattened position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Leg members 68 and 168 are conveniently lifted out from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 so that arms 81 and 82 reach a locking position on clamp 70 (and arm 181 and arm 182 reach a locking position on clamp 70). The members 100 and 200 are then extended to any desired length corresponding to the position of lock holes, as 108 and 109. The locking caps, as 104 and 105, snap by themselves into the lock holes, as 108 and 109 or 118, according to the total table height desired. It is a feature of this ironing board that an ironing board cover which has a substantial degree of elasticity may be left on the table in the compact and folded position of the ironing board. The ironing board is then ready for operation.

When it is desired to collapse the ironing board from its operating position depicted in FIGURE 3, the locking caps, as 104 and 105, in legs 68 and 168 are depressed and legs 100 and 200 telescoped into legs 68 and 168, respectively. Then arms 81 and 82 are disconnected from the locking position on pins 79 and 72 respectively and those pins are slid along the straight portion of slot 83 until the member 68 reaches the position shown in FIG- URE 2. Arms 181 and 182 are similarly manipulated to bring members 68 and 200 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. The leaves 12 and 13 are then rotated about hinge 14 until the collapsed position shown in FIGURE 1 is reached, when spring clamp 111 releasably holds the two leaves together.

It will be seen that the ironing board of my invention constitutes a simple and economical structure, adapted to be conveniently manufactured and manipulated and characterized by stability when set up for use and readily foldable into a compact form.

As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of my invention.

I claim:

1. An ironing board comprising (1) a plurality of reinforced leaves, which leaves are joined to each other by a central hinge therebetween, which leaves, in their extended position, form a fiat top table member, and the axis of said central hinge is a straight line parallel to the plane of the board and perpendicular to the length of said board, (2) a plurality of rigid support means each firmly and pivotally connected to each of said leaves, (a) one of said rigid support means for each of said leaves comprising (I) a pair of pivots attached to and supported by each of the lateral edges of said leaf in the immediate vicinity of said central hinge and (II) a unitary rigid T-shaped leg unit pivotally attached at its lateral ends to said pivots, the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg being rigid and straight and located in a plane substantially midway between the lateral edges of said leaf, and (b) a second support means comprising a rigid brace member for the vertical portion of said T- shaped leg unit, said second support member being rigid and attached, at one end, to the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg unit and, at its other end, to a portion of the leaf near the end thereof most distant from said hinge.

2. An ironing board comprising (1) a plurality of reinforced leaves, which leaves are joined to each other by a central hinge therebetween, which leaves, in their extended position, form a flat top table member, and the axis of said central hinge is a straight line parallel to the plane of said board and perpendicular to the length of said board, and (2) a plurality of rigid support means each firmly and pivotally connected to each of said leaves (a) one of said support means comprising a pair of pivots attached to and supported by each of the lateral edges of said leaf in the immediate vicinity of said central hinge, and (I) a unitary rigid T-shaped leg unit pivotally attached at its lateral ends to said pivots, the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg being rigid and straight and located in a plane substantially midway between the lateral edges of said leaf, (II) a second rigid leg telescopically attached to the interior of the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg, and (b) a second support means comprising a rigid brace member for the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg unit, said second support member being rigid and attached at one end to a portion of said leaf which is most distant from said hinge, and said bracing means being rigid and ribbed, and being permanently and slidably connected to the vertical portion of the T-shaped rigid leg means.

3. A collapsible ironing board comprising 1) two reinforced leaves which leaves are joined to each other by a central hinge therebetween which leaves, in their extended position, form a flat top table member, and the axis of said central hinge is a straight line parallel to the plane of said board and perpendicular to the length of said board, and (2) a plurality of rigid support means each firmly and pivotally connected to each of said leaves (a) one of said support means comprising a pair of pivots attached to and supported by each of the lateral edges of said leaf in the immediate vicinity of said central hinge, and (I) a unitary rigid T-shaped leg unit pivotally attached at its lateral ends to said pivots, the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg being rigid and straight and located in a plane substantially midway between the lateral edges of said leaf, (II) a second rigid leg telescopically attached to the interior of the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg, and (b) a second support means comprising a rigid brace member for the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg unit, said second support member being rigid and attached at one end to a portion of said leaf which is most distant from said hinge, and said bracing means being rigid and ribbed, and being permanently and slidably connected to the vertical portion of the T-shaped rigid leg means.

4. A collapsible ironing board comprising (1) two reinforced leaves which leaves are joined to each other by a central hinge therebetween, which leaves, in their extended postiion, form a flat top table member, and the axis of said central hinge is a straight line parallel to the plane of said board and perpendicular to the length of said board, and (2) a plurality of rigid support means each firmly and pivotally connected to each of said leaves (a) one of said support means comprising a pair of pivots attached to and supported by each of the lateral edges of said leaf in the immediate vicinity of said central hinge, and (I) a unitary rigid T-shaped leg unit pivotally attached at its lateral ends to said pivots, the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg being rigid and straight and located in a plane substantially midway between the lateral edges of said leaf, (II) a second rigid leg telescopically attached to the interior of the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg, and locking means holding the vertical portion of each of said first unitary rigid T-shaped rigid legs in fixed relation to said second rigid leg in one of a plurality of positions, and (b) a second support means comprising a rigid brace member for the vertical portion of said T-shaped leg unit, said second support member being rigid and attached at one end to a portion of said leaf which is most distant from said hinge, and said bracing means being rigid and ribbed, and being permanently and slidably connected to the vertical portion of the T-shaped rigid leg means.

5. A collapsible ironing board as in claim 4 wherein the leaves are each reinforced by peripheral flanges which form a cavity on the underside of said leaves, and said leaves fold together with their undersides facing each other and the side flanges of the two leaves touching.

6. A collapsible ironing board as in claim 5 wherein the length of the vertical porton of the T-shaped rigid leg means and the second rigid leg, in expanded position, is greater than the length of the leaf to which such first unitary T-shaped leg and second rigid leg are attached.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,731 Owens Nov. 3, 1914 1,402,024 Stein Jan. 3, 1922 1,982,111 King NOV. 27, 1934 2,485,193 Foglio Oct. 18, 1949 2,622,353 Mendelson Dec. 23, 1952 2,675,635 Toth Apr. 20, 1954 2,721,407 Sutherland Oct. 25, 1955 2,738,604 Toth Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 750,580 France May 29, 1933 

